This is a 1940 dated Krieghoff
manufactured Luger after the initial contract of 10,000 for the German Air Force,
(Luftwaffe).
The initial 10,000 Lugers were delivered from 1935 until 1937.
However then demands for side arms in the expanding Luftwaffe, which
included not only the air force arm, the anti-aircraft crews but also the
paratroopers (Fallschirmjager, the German paratroopers of World War II,
which made the first airborne infantry assaults in history) required
Krieghoff to expand its' delivery requirements.
(884)

In 1934 the Luftwaffe
announced it was seeking bids for military pistols. It is assumed
that Krieghoff had acquired the old Erfurt Luger tooling from Simpson to
enable it to contract for only 10,000 Lugers in 9mm. The chamber
date places the assembly as an
example of the original military contract.

This 9mm Luger has a 100mm barrel and
bears the Krieghoff Suhl logo on the front link. There is a 'v' notch rear sight on the rear link and a
full bladed inverted 'v' sight on the front and there is a stock lug. This Luger has all matching serial numbers
including the magazine.

The serial number is stamped on the
firing pin (top) the inside of the 1st and 2nd toggle link along with
the Eagle 2 proof on all the parts.

Production commenced in
the Suhl plant in 1934 and by the end of 1937 the 10,000 contract was
completed. While there are very few
examples known of the "G" chamber marked date (less than 50 believed
produced) they are believed to be the 1935 production.

The "G" date (1935) "S" dated chambers were begun in 1936,
followed by the "36" and then the full "1936", 1937
and so on until 1945.

The serial number of
this gun places it in the early stage of the late production
sub-category of the 1940 produced Lugers.

Serial number
placement on German military pistols are usually in the "exposed"
manner with the last two digits of the serial number appearing on the
Parabellum on the exterior of the side plate and locking lever.
However, Krieghoff was a professional hunting gun manufacturer both
before and after the war and the pride in the beauty of the guns are
evident.

Note above the side
plate and the locking lever do not appear to be serial numbered but
when we examine them below we see where the serial number placement is
on the inside.

Note on the barrel
the Stage I and Stage II proofs.

Stage I & Stage II
proof plus the barrel gauge.

Below is the side plate, serial
numbered and proofed with the Eagle 2 on the plate and trigger lever.

The barrel is
numbered and proofed and matches the frame. There are extensive LWaA
1st & 2nd acceptance proofs throughout the gun. Clean and finely
struck.

Above: The last two
digits of the serial number appear on the inside arm of the locking
lever while the Eagle 2 proof of Krieghoff is stamped on the
locking bar.

We strive to provide pictures
so you can judge for yourself if the gun meets your criteria. If you want
more pictures or a detailed shot just email your request.

When the war forced
increased demand on Krieghoff in 1940 to produce additional side arms
they had on hand 1,000 assembled guns in the inventory that were not
proofed and unfinished. Also available in bins were enough parts
for another 1,000 pistols. Thus began the early 1940 production
guns with serial numbers from 10,000 to 10,999.

The guns serial
numbered from 11,000 to 11,999 were considered the last 1940 production
and the delivery dates from this batch of parts ran into the 1944 dates.
Krieghoff skipped the 12,000 block of numbers in 1944 and 1945 and that
limited production is attributed to new parts being manufactured to
produce the guns.

As characteristic of
the early contract Lugers, the polishing prior to bluing of these
pistols was excellent and superior to the other manufacturer's processes. These
contract pistols were salt blued in a bath of 300°F
which produced the uniform premium blue appearance. The thumb
safety is marked "Gesichert" and safe is in the down position.
The extractor is marked "Geladen."

This Luger is very clean, no evidence
or rust or pitting and in excellent condition. The bore is excellent and the gun does not show evidence of
being excessively fired.

During the
production of the initial 10,000 gun contract order 13,600 sets of
parts had been completed at the same time it took to finish the 10,000
weapons. Some of these parts were made up and serial numbered to
replace guns that has been rejected in the acceptance process by the
military inspector. So you might have a 1938 dated gun with a
serial number that should be in 1936. This means the original
1936 sequential gun was rejected during inspection and the 1938 gun
was numbered to replace it. This began the practice of adding
the additional digit to the "P" guns and selling them as commercials.

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display of gun pictures without the express consent of the Phoenix
Investment Arms is strictly prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation.

This excellent Krieghoff
Parabellum is one of 1000 manufactured in 1940 for delivery to the
Luftwaffe. All matching, following every description in the Gibson
book